Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Stantler is a monotype normal Pokemon. It is currently a standalone Pokemon, although an evolution for Stantler called Wyrdeer has been announced. Stantler is classified by the Pokedex as the “Big Horn Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Stantler’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Stantler.
About Stantler
As a generation two Pokemon, Stantler first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode The Little Big Horn. In this episode, Brock helps to reunite a baby Stantler with its herd. Stantler was originally a standalone Pokemon which means that it does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. However, in the new Hisui region, Stantler can evolve into Wyrdeer. The Pokedex states how Stantler was almost hunted to extinction for its prized antlers.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: The Little Big Horn |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Not known to evolve from or into any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | N/A |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Stantler's magnificent antlers were traded at high prices as works of art. As a result, this Pokémon was hunted close to extinction by those who were after the priceless antlers. |
Stantler Base Stats
| HP | 73 |
| ATTACK | 95 |
| DEFENCE | 62 |
| SP. ATTACK | 85 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 65 |
| SPEED | 85 |
| TOTAL | 465 |
Appearance
Stantler is a large brown Pokemon that resembles a deer or caribou. Most of its body is brown with a light colored underside and there are large antlers on top of Stantler’s head with black circles between the prongs. It walks on four hooves and has a large rounded tail. Stantler’s two ears are droopy and it has a large, round, black nose. Stantler is a large Pokemon at 4 feet and 7 inches, or 1.4 meters, tall.
Behavior
In the past, Stantler’s strange antlers were valuable artifacts to Pokémon hunters. It was nearly driven to extinction for its beautiful antlers. The round balls in its antlers can even be ground into a powder that aids in sleeping. In the wild, Stantler lives in herds in temperate, mountainous forests. During the anime, a baby Stantler is separated from its herd. It is shown that when frightened, Stantler will produce an illusion of a big stampeding herd instinctively.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Stantler has an offensive statline as its attack stats and speed stat is higher than its defensive stats. While it has the makings of an aggressive Pokemon, it does not compete well against optimized or late-game Pokemon. It can be difficult to find a role for Stantler on your team but it can still pose a threat. As a monotype normal Pokemon, Stantler takes 2x damage from fighting type moves and while it is immune to ghost type moves, it does not resist any other type of move in the franchise.
Best Moveset
Stantler is weak in terms of competitive play. Since it often gets outspeeded, it tends to fall short of the offensive type of Pokemon. However, its attacks can deal significant damage and its ability Intimidate can slow down your opponent’s Pokemon. Stantler performs best against slow and defensive Pokemon.
Consider running Double-Edge, Sucker Punch, Jump Kick/Earthquake, and Energy Ball/Signal Beam. This set aims to deal the most damage while also maintaining type advantage. Double-Edge, Jump Kick, Earthquake, and Energy Ball can be utilized to cover as many types of your opponent’s Pokemon as possible. Use Sucker Punch if you expect your opponent is going to attack.
| Double-Edge | Sucker Punch |
| Jump Kick/Earthquake | Energy Ball/Signal Beam |
How to Catch Stantler in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Stantler in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. While Stantler is not as common as other base evolution Pokemon in the wild, you can find Stantler spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near fields, roads, schools, businesses, stadiums, and other residential areas. Stantler can also be hatched from 5 and 7 km eggs. You can also find Stantler spawning as a tier three raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. But since Stantler does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon, you can use any candies you collect to power up your Pokemon.
Trivia
- Stantler can be found on Route 36. This route leads to Violet City, a counterpart of Nara, Japan. Many tame deer roam freely in Nara.
- The inspiration for Stantler’s design is likely based on reindeer, elk, or moose.
- The name Stantler is a combination of the words stag and antler.
FAQ
How good is Stantler?
Stantler can function as an aggressive Pokemon as while it can often get outclassed by other Pokemon, it can still present a threat. With access to high base power moves, Stantler can deal a surprising amount of damage. You will need to be aware of Stantler’s bad matchups if you want to succeed with it in battle.
What evolves into Stantler?
Stantler is a standalone Pokemon as of generation eight. However, in the new open world Pokemon game, Stantler can evolve into a Wyrdeer. Until then, there are no evolutions for Stantler. There is no Pokemon that evolves into Stantler and it has no evolution conditions currently.
Is Stantler a rare Pokemon?
Typically Stantler can be found in multiple locations throughout each Pokemon generation. However, in many of these locations Stantler only has around a 5% encounter rate. It can take a long time to find Stantler, but as long as you know where it spawns you can obtain Stantler you can find it easily. As long as you have enough dedication, you can find Stantler with ease.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Big Horn Pokemon”. While Stantler’s impact on competitive play is limited, it is by no means a weak Pokemon. The damage from Stantler is significant, and it typically can survive more than one hit thanks to its high health pool. With its high base power moves, Stantler can be a powerful Pokemon in battle. Reserve a slot on your team for Stantler if you want a hard-hitting normal type Pokemon.
